After the fall of the Afghanistan Islamic republic government to the Taliban in 2021, Afghan women and girls have faced increasing restrictions and deprivation. Since seizing power, the Taliban have repeatedly sought to weaken them and cut off their opportunities.
Despite these challenges, Afghan girls continue to fight for their right to education. Many put aside their basic needs to buy internet packages or pool resources to activate Wi-Fi collectively. Even though connecting multiple devices at the same time slows the internet significantly, for them this fragile connection is a vital lifeline to continue learning.
From the very beginning of their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban did not hesitate to discriminate against women and girls. They have not only eliminated women’s presence from much of society but have also tried to silence their voices by any means possible. The consequences of this deprivation extend far beyond the classroom. When women are denied education, society loses future teachers, doctors, specialists, and leaders.
These consequences are both immediate and long-term. As the cycle of social weakness expands, forced marriages increase, mental health struggles worsen, and family and community problems deepen. Public services, too, are disrupted. Protecting digital rights in Afghanistan is therefore inseparable from protecting women’s rights.
The United Nations must recognize access to technology as one of the most fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls, and act urgently and decisively in response to the Taliban’s repression. The Taliban have already sought to monitor and restrict internet users, collecting data from social media accounts in ways that directly undermine freedom of expression.
Technology companies also carry responsibility. They must ensure that Afghans’ privacy and internet data are protected, and they must not ignore the double injustice Afghan girls face. These young women have already been deprived of education for four years, and now their last bastion of resistance—the digital space—is under constant attack.
